What should leaders know about mental ill-health and disability in the workplace?
Almost 20% of the Canadian workforce has a disability. 20% of Canadian employees experience mental ill-health in any given year. These statistics likely are under-reported as many employees continue to be concerned about the potential for poor treatment by colleagues or supervisors. Staff often feel, or anticipate feeling, wronged and betrayed when they disclose their health status at work. Despite campaigns to increase awareness and sensitivity to mental health issues, there is a general lack of understanding surrounding mental illness and disability at work and much stigma remains in these settings.

In this session, we will provide an overview of best practices for supporting staff with mental ill-health and disabilities drawn from recent research in this area. We will focus on how leaders and managers can create positive work environments that enable all staff to be productive, as well as the limitations and challenges related to supporting staff this way.